Albert l



(No Model.)

A. 'L; PLATT.

BOOK HOLDER Patented Ar. 12, 1898.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. PLATT, OF CLINTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE CLINTON BOOK-HOLDER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

' BQOK-HOLD ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,169, dated April 12, 1898. Application filed July 17, 1897. Serial No. 644,973- (No model.)

T0 aZZ whom'it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT L. PLATT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Clinton, in the county of De Witt and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Book-Holders; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specificatio'ni My invention relates to book-holding attachments for desks, chairs, invalids couches, and other objects of that class or description which admit of the easy adjustment of the holder to the most desirable position for read ing; and its object is to provide an improved construction ofthe same which shall possess superior advantages with respect to efficiency in use.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a book-holder, constructed in accordance with my invention, connected with the top of a school-desk and with a book open and in position for reading. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the holder with the book removed- Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal sectional view on the line :20 x, Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the socket. V

In the said drawings the reference-nu meral 1 designates the top of a desk, provided with a socket 2, having ridges or ribs 3 on its periphery and formed with a central taperingaperture or bore. Seated in this aperture is the correspondingly-tapered bent end 4 of a rod 5, the other end 6 of which is tapered and bent oppositely to the end 4. This tapered end 6 fits in a tapered aperture in a lug 7. By thus tapering said apertures and ends the proper degree of friction is secured, and as said ends wear away they will seat farther in the apertures-without loosening the joints or changing the degree of friction. The end 4 is capable of turning in the socket 2, while lug 7 can turn on the end 6, the friction being sufficient to hold them in any position to which they may be adjusted. Formed with said'lug is a transverse pintle 8, with which engage two approximately semicircular lugs 9 of a plate 10, thus forming a hinged joint. Connected with said plate by a set-screw 11 is a plate 12, formed at its upper endwith a rectangular portion 13 and with a grooved flange 14, which bears against said pintle. By means of this screw the tension of said hinge-joint may be regulated. Formed with -said rectangular portion is a vertical back'15,

between which and the stationary fingers hereinafter described the book-cover is held. This back at its center is curved, so that in connection with the rounded sides of said fingers the back of the book can have a slight play. Secured to said rectangular portion of plate 12 at each end by screws 16 are two stationary uprights or fingers 17, the rear sides of which are slightly rounded. The plate 12 in rear of said uprights or fingers is formed with a depression or cut-away portion 18 to receive the ends of curved spring clamps or fingers 19, which are pivotally connected therewith by set-screws 20, passing through the said uprights or stationary fingers.

In using the device the socket 2 is inserted in a hole formed in the desk orother object and the end 4 of the rod 5 inserted in the opening therein, so that said rod can be swung horizontally to any position desired. The

lug 7 can also turn horizontally on the end 6 of said rod. The book-cover is then inserted between the back and the stationary fingers and the leaves held in open position by the spring-clamps. The book can now be adjusted at any inclination found convenient or desirable. It will thus be seen that the device has, as it were, a'universal movement, so that it can be adjusted toany angle or po sition to suit the convenience of the/user The invention will be found more especially applicable to school-desks, as the top of the desk, being very nearly horizontal, is at an improper angle to the line of vision. By said construction the book can be adjusted to properly suit the sight. Again, a person at the desk has his hands free for writing upon a' slate or paper and will also have more deskroom, as the book is elevated above the top and not laid thereon. There are other advantages which will be apparent and therefore not necessary to be referred to herein.

. Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a book-holder of the character described, the combination with the socket having peripheral ribs, the rod having bent tapering ends, the lug having a tapering aperture and the pintle, of the plate formed with rounded lugs, the plate connected therewith by a set-screw, the curved back, the stationary fingers, and the pivoted spring-clamps, substantially as specified.

2. In a book-holdenof the character described, the combination with the tapering socket, having peripheral ribs, the rod having bent tapering ends, the lug having a ta-' ALBERT L. PLATT.

Witnesses:

A. J. LATIMER, E. B. MITCHELL. 

